World Heart Day

For the benefit of all, Sera Jhe Health Care Committee has posted the following article to commemorate world heart day on 27th Sept 2009

If you want to save your heart from getting damaged, better start eliminating the risk factors early. Ignoring them might convert them into chronic heart disease (CHD) that may be difficult to treat in the latter part of your life. They may even paralyse your normal routine activities.

While the health experts have advocated the need for better heart care starting from childhood, life style factors, including dietary habits, are emerging as serious factors affecting the functioning of the blood pumping organ in the body.

According to expert on cardiology, the dietary habits are becoming important indicator for determining the functioning of one of the most important organs in the body. Apart from genetic factors (hereditary traits), the heart diseases are fast becoming life style diseases affecting people belonging to different age groups.

The heart diseases with their manifestations are affecting people of all age groups, no matter what place they come from. It starts with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in young children and adolescents (between 5-15 years) and may take the form of CHD, hypertension and cerebrovascular stroke (heart attack) in middle-aged people.

However, most of the health experts have given a strong call for change in life style and dietary habits that could minimise the risk factors to a great extent and save the heart.

Regular physical activity and judicious selection of diet can bring an amazing change in the normal functioning of the heart besides oiling it to prepare for future degeneration in later part of life. Inclusion of green vegetables and fruits and fibres in the diet can decrease the risk factors. Similarly, avoiding junk food, alcohol and tobacco consumption (cigarettes) also boosts the functioning of the heart.

What is World Heart Day?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared September 27 as World Heart Day to create awareness about taking proper care of heart to avoid various cardiovascular diseases that have become the major killers in the world. As per WHO figures, heart diseases and stroke are the first and second leading causes of death for adult men and women in developed countries. The recent WHO projections estimate the number of patients with chronic heart disease (CHD) to cross over two million in a year in India by 2010.

Preventive measures (lifestyle and diets)

Regular physical activity

Inclusion of vegetables, fruits and fibres in the diet

Inclusion of fish and fish oils in the non-vegetarian diet

Avoiding junk foods, alcohol and tobacco consumption

Including whole grain cereals and nuts (unsalted) in the diet